Kailua Citizen Forester Program

​In June 2016, a group of passionate volunteers began their training to become certified citizen foresters (CFs). With the help and support of arborists and mapping specialists, these volunteers learned how to ID trees, gather metrics such as height, canopy spread and diameter and input all of this data into an online GIS software system called "Tree Plotter." Since completion of the training sessions at the end of July, these citizen foresters have met once per week in order map all of Kailua’s street trees. As of December 2016, they had mapped over 1,300 trees and are quickly approaching their goal of recording data for every street tree in the city.

From the accumulated data, the general public can view these trees, their associated metrics and calculated environmental and monetary benefits that are provided to Kailua annually from its urban forest.

Should you be interested in becoming a citizen forester, please send TOC’s Programs Director, Myles Ritchie, an email at myles@outdoorcircle.org

While Kailua is currently the only location with this program, we are looking to expand out to other areas on Oahu and eventually across the state, so please let Myles know if you are interested in a certain area.

A big mahalo to the program's partners: The City and County of Honolulu, Department of Land and Natural Resources - Kaulunani, Smart Trees Pacific, University of Hawaii and The Outdoor Circle.